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Woofstock 2011

12 Sep

I love raising money for animal shelters and rescues. It is up there with squeaking a brand new toy and eating chicken. Of course, helping out animals in need is even more fun when you get to hang out with other like minded humans and dogs. This weekend I got to do exactly that! Saturday marked the 6th annual Woofstock festival presented by The Animal House. Woofstock is festival that celebrates the pawesomeness of being a dog as well as all those pooches (and kitties!) looking for their forever homes. This year, there were 17 rescues and animal shelters from all around New England that benefited from the proceeds raised through the “Pay What You Can” admission fee, pet items yard sale, silent auction, 50/50 raffle, for-profit vendor fees, and what ever money is raised by the shelters and rescues themselves through items sold or services rendered at their booths.

Some of the rescues is attendance

There were also tons of vendors selling everything from collars, toys, treats, pet shampoo, and dog clothes. My pug friend Jenny and I (we attended the event with Marie, Jenny, Angelica, and Leo) were in doggy heaven from all the delicious samples being doled out by the likes of TriPom Chews, Zelda’s Biscuit Bakery, Nature’s Variety (where I met one of my facebook friends!), Stella & Chewy’s, Barkwheats, Merrick, Evermore Pet Food, and more. Leo wasn’t all that interested in the treats because he doesn’t eat in public. Some of the other vendors included Mutt Nose Best, a natural pet care line made in Maine, Uncommon Paws, a shop and maker of collars, leashes, pet clothes (who also happened to have a display of blanketIDs!), Classic Hound with their beautiful collars, the Maine POM Project, and so many more.

Mom, myself, Angelica, and Leo

There were also some really fun dog demos to watch. We happened to catch a bit of the agility demo where a few pups ran through tunnels, jumped over hurdles, and generally made me jealous that I wasn’t a bit more athletic. Even Jenny and Marie got into the action when they volunteered to help out during the freestyle demo.

This is Jenny's patented "Sniff for Treats" move

Honestly, one of the greatest things about the Woofstock was being able to meet so many different dogs and humans. Dogs from giant (and I’m talking at least a four poop bagger kind of giant) Great Danes and Irish Wolfhounds, to itty bitty Chihuahuas as well as every breed or mix of breeds in between were their in their furry glory. I sniffed butts of dogs with three legs, dogs who needed carts to get around, even a deaf Border Collie. There were long haired dogs, short haired dogs, some dogs in dire need of a hair cut. I even got to finally rub noses with Finch, the foster dog turned adopted dog of the humans behind Barkwheats (and a puppy that my mom has been obsessed with ever since seeing her photo on the Loyal Biscuit facebook page), as well as Oscar, a me-look-a-like whom Angelica and Leo kept running into around Rockland.

This Great Dane's head was bigger than all of me

 

The adorable Finch!

 

Oscar, my look-a-like and I

All in all, it was a terrific day that was spent helping out 17 terrific shelters and rescues. We all came away with the satisfaction of knowing we helped many pets in need of homes, lots of new friends, and so much swag! 

So much swag!

As I didn’t want to make this post too picture heavy, I’ll be posting the rest of my Woofstock photos on my facebook page later today. 

Happy tail wags!

In Other News

6 Sep

I hope everyone had a fun and relaxing long weekend. I got to spend some time lolling on the beach with my friends Jenny and Leo and their human counterparts. Now, you may be trying to figure out how that was possible with me being at college and all. Well, as some of you may have read on my twitter and facebook accounts, mom and I are no longer attending the University of Maine. If you’ve been a loyal reader, you’ll already know that mom has some issues with panic and anxiety (she has Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder). Even though she’s been working her non-existent tail off to feel comfortable enough to move away from home and attend school, she felt too uncomfortable and distressed to stay. So, we are now back home (and home is now officially my GG and Gramp’s house) and working on regrouping. While shaken, my mom hasn’t given up her dream of one day being a veterinarian, she just needs a bit more time until she’s ready.

The good thing that came out of all of this is further proof that my confidence has risen and my own anxiety has diminished greatly. If we had made the move a year or so ago, I probably would have paced and panted myself into a stupor from stress. Something as simple as some obedience training and classic conditioning has given me enough courage to face new challenges without having to cling to my humans for comfort. In fact, the only time I had an visible stress was during the move-in phase which would honestly give anyone, human or dog, some stress. My mom was very proud of me and confident that when we do return to school, I will be just fine!

Happy tail wags!

Wordless Wednesday: Last Beach Day of the Summer Edition

24 Aug

College Bound Update

23 Aug

It is officially three days until I’m headed to the University of Maine. I feel like it was only yesterday that my mom received her acceptance letter. It also seems like I’ve been preparing for this every minute. Crate training has been the biggest feat of all. As a young pup, I was contained to a crate during my housebreaking period. I have since become really rusty at the whole not having an entire room to myself when no one is home thing. Not anymore! I am officially re-crate trained (though it’s not my favorite thing). So obviously this photo is older because A) it was taken at the apartment (we officially moved into my GG and Gramp’s house) and B) I’m wearing a sweater (it is definitely NOT sweater weather). But Prudence, you may be asking yourself, how can you teach an old dog new tricks? It was actually easy! First my mom would give me treats for just sniffing and exploring around the crate. After a I was comfortable around the crate (meaning I didn’t jump if my mom touched it or if one of the cats jumped on it) she put some really high value treats progressively further and further into the crate until I would walk into it with no problem. I even ate a few of my meals inside the crate a few nights to help my brain assimilate that the crate means good things (and food is definitely a good thing!). I started liking my crate so much, I would go in there for naps when my mom was milling around her room. When I would do this, my mom would shut the door and then walk in and out of the room so I would get used to her not being around all the time. More recently, I’ve been spending an hour or less in the crate while my mom runs errands. I whined at first, but now I just take a nap.

Other than that, mom and I have also been working on keeping a schedule with my walkies and dinner times that we can translate over to when we move to school. This stability in routine will help me to transition faster in a new environment. That way I won’t have to adjust to both a new environment and a new schedule.

Even though I’m experiencing all this preparation, I am still a little nervous. The humans say this is normal, but I can’t help but be worried. I’m also going to miss the humans that won’t be moving with me, like nanny, aunty, GG, Gramp, Angelica, Marie, Heidi, and of course my doggy friends Leo, Jenny, Chuck, and Fenny, but mom promises we’ll come back to visit (plus we’ll be home for all the major holidays). It’s going to be an adventure, not matter what happens!

Happy tail wags!

Maine Greyhound Placement Service

22 Aug

On the day that I went with the humans to visit The Animal House, we had two missions in mind. The first being to meet and lavish with kisses (at least on my part) Aubrey the co-owner. The second mission was to get some information and talk with some of the humans behind the Maine Greyhound Placement Service (MGPS) who happened to be hanging out with a few of their four-legged counterparts, at The Animal House for the day.

MGPS is a non-profit organization whose soul purpose is to rescue and find loving and responsible forever homes for retired racing greyhounds. Even though their adoption center is located in Augusta, Maine (they are currently working on building a new kennel for the dogs in their care), they have placed greyhounds in homes throughout New England and beyond! The adoption center is also home to a pet supply store as well as a spay/neuter clinic. All the greyhounds that the MGPS works to find homes for are usually between the ages of 2-5 years old. As mom and I knew very little about greyhounds as a breed, I had my mom grab all the literature that MGPS provided. We’ve learned a lot! Think greyhounds are hyper? They are actually incredibly mellow and calm. They can also make great apartment dogs as they only require an average amount of exercise (it’s not mandatory to have a fenced in back yard) and most greyhounds are content to just lounge around most of the day.

What was wonderful about the meet and greet with some of the members of the MGPS was rubbing noses with the greyhounds in attendance, all of which have found forever homes and work as spokesdogs for those still searching for the right family. As the MGPS is run by the hard work of volunteers and the kindness of humans who donate, they are often in need of many things. In fact, there was a great write-up in the Greyhound Express, MGPS’s quarterly newsletter, about all the ways you can help the organization succeed. The first is to help spread the word, like I am doing now. As the newsletter states, “Word of mouth is the best promotion.” If you live near the Augusta adoption center, you can also volunteer (check out their website for more info). And they always accept donations, especially of the kennel items they need such as bleach, paper towels, and more (you can read the full list here).

My mom has always said that in the future she would like to share her home with a retired racing greyhound. If you’ve always thought the same, the Maine Greyhound Placement Service is the perfect place to start your search.

Happy tail wags!

2011 Boatyard Dog Trials

15 Aug

It’s that time of the year again for the annual Boatyard Dog Trials put on by the Maine Boats, Homes, & Harbors Show (read my post about last year’s competition here). As it was last year, I wasn’t able to attend due to the “No Dog” rule (other than the dog contestants, that is), so I sent my ever adventurous human reporter (my mom) to go and take some notes for me (and have fun obviously!).

This year the competition was extra special because my Labrador friend, Fenway, and the co-owner of The Loyal Biscuit Co, Joel, were one of the five competing dog-human teams. The other dog contenders were Grace O’Malley (the pirate queen), Oskar (the skilled jumper), Lyla (the crustacean queen), and Pixel (the facebook celeb. You can find Pixel’s facebook page here)

Fenway, the black belt!

There are three parts to the trial that every dog has to complete. The first part is an obstacle course involved bait buckets and lobster traps, the second is entering and exiting a tippy dinghy, and third, a freestyle routine. In addition to the different parts of the competition, there are usually only two rules in the competition (1. Either the dog or the handler must be completely soaked at the end of their 8 minute or less routine and 2. Not only is cheating allowed, but it is incredibly encouraged) but this year an extra rule was added! The third new rule was that, somewhere in the freestyle routine, a rubber ducky had to be included. In this, every contestant excelled. There were duckies included in everything from a raft of ducks used for fetching, to a ducky float stuffed with bribes for the judges.

Layla

There were two teams that my mom found incredibly impressive. The first was Fenny and Joel, the former of which was dressed in a karate gi, the later in his police officer uniform. Not only did Fen handle the obstacle course with ease (even through the temptation of the stinky bait bucket), but she was also in an out of the dinghy as if she had been doing it her entire life. The greatest moment happened during the freestyle when, after going through a few obedience commands (and Joel rolling around on the dock in an attempt to make Fenway roll over), Joel tried to entice Fenway with a rubber ducky when he “accidentally” fell off the dock. Fen jumped in not too soon after. You can see the entire performance here (mom tried to get video, but the judges’ boat kept getting in the way. Oh, and if you listen closely, you can hear my mom shouting “Fenway’s a SHE” in the background). 

And double points for BOTH contestants being soaked

The other impressive team was former shelter dog, Pixel, and her “Posse.”

Shelter pets DO rock

Pixel performed an impressive trick when she and her human attempted to board the dinghy. Her human laid down and became a living gang plank, connecting the dock with the dinghy. After a few faulty starts, Pixel boarded the dinghy with finesse. Then, during her freestyle, she not only jumped over a jump covered in duckies, she also donned a swim cap and rode a skateboard. Her human, in a matching swim cap, also rode a skateboard, except she rode it right into the water.

Pixel during her freestyle

Of course, through out all the fun, the Boatyard Dog Trials is a judged competition. So after all the bribes, doggy gymnastics, and cheers, the judges tallied their votes and awarded Fenway with the championship and Golden Bowl trophy!

Even though there had to be a chosen winner, in truth, all the dogs were winners in the spirit of having a good time.

Happy tail wags!

The Animal House

10 Aug

Even though the humans have been so very, very busy with the move to GG’s and Gramp’s, they have somehow found the time to take a few day trips. On one of these occasions, it was decided that not only could I come along, but that we were going to visit a pet supply store called The Animal House.

(photo source)

A few months ago, my mom was able to visit The Animal House, but didn’t have me along at the time. I was incredibly excited that I would get to come along this time around, especially since I had been talking to Aubrey, the co-owner, a lot on my facebook page. So not only would I be able to sniff out a new pet store, but also meet one of my facebook friends!

Anyway, The Animal House was established in 2005 in Damariscotta, Maine. As their website states, The Animal House understands “that your cat or dog is much more than just a pet, they are a cherished member of the family.” All the products that they carry reflect that philosophy. You will not find a single junky or unhealthy ingredient in the foods and treats that are found on the shelves of The Animal House. Nor will you walk out of the store empty handed! The shelves are so full of so many different products, you could spend hours just looking at the different types of food, let alone all the treats, toys, supplements, clothes, shampoos, and beds. The Animal House and their knowledgeable staff also dedicate a lot of their time to help animals in need. In fact, the store acts as a satellite adoption center for the Humane Society of Knox County and they often hold adoption events for rescue organizations like the Maine Greyhound Placement Service (one of the reasons I visited The Animal House, but that’s for another post!).  There is so much more to The Animal House that it may just take me a week to get it all down in a single post. The Animal House is more than just a store. They offer grooming, nutritional help, and online store, and there is sometimes even an in house vet that takes appointments. It was definitely worth a long, tedious drive in the car to visit Aubrey and The Animal House! It will probably be awhile before I will make another trip, but I’ll be crossing my paws that it happens sooner than later.

If you’re ever in the Damariscotta area of Maine, you’ll definitely want to check The Animal House out!

Happy tail wags!

 

The Itchy Issue

2 Aug

Fleas. I don’t think anyone anywhere would actually say that they like those itty bitty bloodsucking fiends. It’s even worse for dogs who have flea allergic dermatitis (FAD) or flea bite hypersensitivity. FAD is a reaction to a flea’s saliva that is left during a flea bite. While not life threatening, FAD is incredibly uncomfortable for a dog due to the skin becoming severely itchy. The itchiness can lead to hair loss, skin inflammation, and skin trauma due to chewing and scratching. If you need proof, you can take a look at my back end.

While I’ve always had a uncomfortable time with fleas, this summer has been especially awful. Right now, my back, rear legs, and belly are almost hairless, rather red, and covered in tiny scabs, which has led my mom to believing I have FAD (she’ll be scheduling a vet appointment in the near future to confirm). The fleas seem incredibly inexhaustible this summer, mainly due to the humans’ suspicions that the front lawn may be infested (probably thanks to an influx of stray kitties, a new neighborhood raccoon, and the empty house next door becoming a bat haven). Even the usual preventative steps to protect myself and the kitties from fleas and other nasty bugs aren’t working. So what’s a poor, scratchy pooch to do?

Sadly, not much. My mom has been researching safe methods to deflea the yard (even though we are moving soon), the kitties and I are being tortured with flea combing three times a day, and we’ve all been doused with not only holistic anti flea remedies, but also the heavy, not so natural stuff (Frontline and Capstar). For the itching, a friend of my mom’s and co-owner of The Animal House, a pet store in Damariscotta, Maine, suggested raw coconut oil. Not only is coconut oil a great, healthy treat, it is also antiseptic so it’s great for cuts and scrapes. Stay tuned for a separate post about all the benefits of coconut oil!

Now it’s all about the waiting. Even after a single bite, a FAD prone dog can suffer symptoms for an extended period of time. On the 13th, the humans, the kitties, and I are moving in with my GG and gramp, so that takes care of having to worry about the infested lawn. I also think the kitties are going to be scheduled for a professional defleaing at a pet groomers (thankfully it’s them and not me!).

If you have any flea related or flea allergic dermatitis related tips, please feel free to share in the comments!

Happy (but itchy) tail wags!

Source: PetMD

Celtic Celebration

22 Jul

Last weekend, I was very fortunate to attend (along with Leo, Angelica, and my mom) the Maine Celtic Celebration in Belfast, Maine. It’s very rare that I get to go to any sort of outdoor festival, mostly due to the crowds and heat. This time around, the celebration was hosting a whole afternoon of dog activities, not to mention happened to be hosted in the same town as a pawesome dog park and the new Loyal Biscuit location, so my mom felt a little more than obligated to bring me along.

One of the day’s events was a parade and show of Celtic breed dogs. While we were a little late for the parade, many of the attendees were still wandering around enjoying the free agility course and just having a ball canoodling with the other four-legged festival goers.

Some were even dressed for the occasion

 Thankfully the revelry wasn’t specified only for those of Celtic origin, so there were dogs of every breed (and mix of breed) enjoying the sun and attention.

Like Bagel!

 The biggest draw of the afternoon was watching a flyball demonstration by a Maine-based flyball team known as the Flyball Maineiacs.

One of the flyballers in action

Flyball is a form of racing that matches two teams of four dogs who race relay style over a 51 foot course that features jumps and a pressure-released ball box. Each dog races down the jumps, hits a box which releases a ball, grabs the ball, and returns back through the jumps. Once the first dog returns, the second dog is released to run the course. Because the event was so thrilling to watch, I made sure my mom grabbed a video!

All in all it was a very fun and incredibly exhausting day. I was very appreciative that my mom came prepared with plenty of water and let me rest (or in one case take a snooze on a stranger’s lap) when I became a little too hot and tired. Even Leo, who is usually nervous and scared in crowds and unfamiliar places, seemed to enjoy himself.

Happy tail wags!

Belated Blogiversary

14 Jul

Well this just goes to show how up-to-date my human and I are when it comes to my blog. As of July 7th (7 days ago?! I am ashamed of myself), I have been an official dog blogger for two whole years. So, in dog years, Of Cows’ Tails and Chew Toys is in its teens. I would say that it seems like only yesterday since my blog got started, but that would be lying (and I never lie), this year especially. There were actually a few times when I almost hung up my typing paws. Mom’s new school schedule was taking a toll not only on our daily activities, but also on the motivation to keep OCTCT afloat. Really it was not wanting to let down all my friends and readers that kept everything going. And I’m so glad! Especially with this wonderful adventure of going to college spread before me. Who better to share the triumphs and failures of a dog’s dorm life than all of you wonderful humans and animals that I have come to know and adore so very much. So thank you, thank you for making not only this past year, but these last two years such a joy and so very worth it.

And now I have a favor to ask, after I’ve buttered you up with complements (and maybe a hang-dog glance or two). I would love to know, in the comments, what your favorite posts from this past year have been (since the last blogiversary) and what you would like to see more of, or even less of, as I blog more. More product reviews, more real news stories, less about the beach; whatever you’re feeling, please let it out!

Happy tail wags!

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